Moneo put his hands in his lap. 'You choose male companions for their ability to fight and die on the side of right as you see it. You choose females who can complement this masculine view of yourself. You allow for no differences which can come from good will.'
Something moved in the doorway to Moneo's workroom. He looked up in time to see Siona enter. She stopped, one hand on her hip.
'Well, father, up to your old tricks, I see.'
Idaho jerked around to stare at the speaker.
Moneo studied her, looking for signs of the change. She had bathed and put on a fresh uniform, the black and gold of Fish Speaker command, but her face and hands still betrayed the evidence of her desert ordeal. She had lost weight and her cheekbones stood out. Unguent did little to conceal cracks in her lips. Veins stood out on her hands. Her eyes looked ancient and her expression was that of someone who had tasted bitter dregs.
'I've been listening to you two,' she said. She dropped her hand from her hip and moved farther into the room. 'How dare you speak of good will, father?'
Idaho had noted the uniform. He pursed his lips in thought. Fish Speaker Command? Siona?
'I understand your bitterness,' Moneo said. 'I -had similar feelings once.'
'Did you really?' She came closer, stopping just beside Idaho, who continued to regard her with a look of speculation.
'I am filled with joy to see you alive,' Moneo said.
'How gratifying. for you to see me safely into the God Emperor's Service,' she said. 'You waited so long to have a child and look! See how successful I am.' She turned slowly to display her uniform. 'Commander of the Fish Speakers. A commander with a troop of one, but nonetheless a commander.'
Moneo forced his voice to be cold and professional. 'Sit down.'
'I prefer to stand.' She looked down at Idaho's upturned face. 'Ahhh, Duncan Idaho, my intended mate. Don't you find this interesting, Duncan? The Lord Leto tells me I will befitted into the command structure of the Fish Speakers in time. Meanwhile, I have one attendant. Do you know the one called Nayla, Duncan?'
Idaho nodded.
'Really? I think perhaps I don't know her.' Siona looked at Moneo. 'Do I know her, father?'
Moneo shrugged.
'But you speak of trust, father,' Siona said. 'Who does the powerful minister, Moneo, trust?'
Idaho turned to see the effect of these words on the majordomo. The man's face appeared brittle with repressed emotion. Anger? No... something else.
I trust the God Emperor,' Moneo said. 'And, in the hope that it will teach both of you something, I am here to convey his wishes to you.'
'His wishes!' Siona taunted. 'Hear that, Duncan? The God Emperor's commands are now wishes.'
'Speak your piece,' Idaho said. 'I know we have little choice in whatever it is.'
'You always have a choice,' Moneo said.
'Don't listen to him,' Siona said. 'He's full of tricks. They expect us to fall into each other's arms and breed more like my father. Your descendant, my father!'
Moneo's face went pale. He gripped the edge of his worktable with both hands and leaned forward. 'You are both fools! But I will try to save you. In spite of yourselves, I will try to save you.'
Idaho saw Moneo's cheeks tremble, the intensity of the man's stare, and felt oddly moved by this. 'I'm not his stud, but I'll listen to you.'
'Always a mistake,' Siona said.
'Be still, woman,' Idaho said.
She glared at the top of Idaho's head. 'Don't address me that way or I'll wrap your neck around your ankles!'
Idaho stiffened and started to turn.
Moneo grimaced and waved a hand for Idaho to remain seated. 'I caution you, Duncan, that she could probably do it. I am no match for her and you do recall your attempt at violence against me?'
Idaho inhaled a deep, quick breath, let it out slowly, then: 'Say what you have to say.'
Siona moved to perch at the end of Moneo's table and looked down at both of them. 'Much better,' she said. 'Let him have his say, but don't listen.'
Idaho pressed his lips tightly together.
Moneo released his grip on the edge of his desk. He sat back and looked from Idaho to Siona. 'I have almost completed the arrangements for the God Emperor's wedding to Hwi Noree. During those festivities, I want you both out of the way.'
Siona turned a questioning look on Moneo. 'Your idea or his?'
'Mine!' Moneo returned his daughter's glare. 'Have you no sense of honor and duty? Have you learned nothing from being with him?'
'Oh, I learned what you learned, father. And I gave my word, which I will keep.'
'Then you'll command the Fish Speakers?'
'Whenever he trusts me with command. You know, father, he's ever so much more devious than you are.'
'Where are you sending us?' Idaho asked.
'Provided we agree to go,' Siona said.
'There is a small village of Museum Fremen at the edge of the Sareer,' Moneo said. 'It is called Tuono. The village is relatively pleasant. It's in the shadow of the Wall with the river just beyond the Wall. There is a well and the food is good.'
Tuono? Idaho wondered. The name sounded familiar. 'There was a Tuono Basin on the way to Sietch Tabr,' he said.
'And the nights are long and there's no entertainment,' Siona said.
Idaho shot a sharp glance at her. She returned it. 'He wants us breeding and the Worm satisfied,' she said. 'He wants babies in my belly, new lives to warp and twist. I'll see him dead before I'll give him that!'
Idaho looked back at Moneo with a bemused expression. 'And if we refuse to go?'
'I think you'll go,' Moneo said.
Siona's lips twitched. 'Duncan, have you even seen one of these little desert villages? No comforts, no...'
'I have seen Tabur Village,' Idaho said.
'I'm sure that is a metropolis beside Tuono. Our God Emperor would not celebrate his nuptials in any cluster of mud hovels! Oh, no. Tuono will be mud hovels and no amenities, as close to the original Fremen as possible.'
Idaho kept his attention on Moneo while speaking: 'Fremen did not live in mud huts.'
'Who cares where they conducted their cultish games?' she sneered.
Still looking at Moneo, Idaho said: 'Real Fremen had only one cult, the cult of personal honesty. I worry more about honesty than about comfort.'
'Don't expect comfort from me!' Siona snapped.
'I don't expect anything from you,' Idaho said. 'When would we leave for this Tuono, Moneo?'
'You're going?' she asked.
'I am considering an acceptance of your father's kindness,' Idaho said.
'Kindness!' She looked from Idaho to Moneo.
'You would leave immediately,' Moneo said. 'I have detailed a detachment of Fish Speakers under Nayla to escort you and provide for you at Tuono.'
'Nayla?' Siona asked. 'Really? Will she stay with us there?'
'Until the day of the wedding.'
Siona nodded slowly. 'Then we accept.'
'Accept for yourself!' Idaho snapped.
Siona smiled. 'Sorry. May I formally request that the great
Duncan Idaho join me at this primitive garrison where he will keep his hands off my person?'
